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Curriculum Corner

Warrick County School Corporation - October 2020

Curriculum CornerWarrick County School Corporation - October 2020

Addressing COVID Learning Gaps

Progressing into the second grading period, teachers have had time to identify learning deficiencies from our Spring closure. These learning gaps will not be the same for all students and research indicates they may be more significant in Mathematics than in Language Arts. Despite the deficiencies, grade-level content and skills should remain the focus. Academic considerations to help catch students up include:


  • Focus on grade level standards, content and skills
  • Identify missing essential skills through quick formative assessment prior to new academic standards
  • Link new standards to prior knowledge - try not to teach new content in isolation
  • Use more frequent formative assessments and checks for understanding to identify gaps


The IDOE Frameworks are a great place to quickly look back at previous skills and standards directly related to a grade-level academic standard. Additionally, teachers can look ahead to quickly see how each standard connects to future learning. Clarifying examples and digital resources are linked in the Frameworks. Vertical Alignment Guides are also a great window into related previous and future skills.


Links to the Content Frameworks are below:


ELA - Literacy Framework

Math Framework

Science Framework

Social Studies Resource Guides

Academic Resource: Tools for Teachers

The IDOE has partnered with Smarter Balanced to bring a new resource to Indiana teachers. Tools for Teachers can be accessed through the TIDE interface. Within this resource, teachers can search and access instructional strategies and activities that support specific content and learning goals. Full lesson plans, pre-built activities, and differentiation strategies are available. The search and filter options help teachers quickly find what they are looking for. Resources have been vetted by educators, content experts and accessibility experts. Additionally, the resources have been vetted for alignment to both content and rigor expectations. These resources will provide a variety of tasks related to different cognitive complexities, including more complex cognitive skills.


This resource opened to Indiana teachers on September 14th through the TIDE interface. The first time teachers log in to TIDE for this school year, they will have to reset their password.

How Tools for Teachers Supports Educators

Building Community in a Virtual (or Hybrid) World

Last month, Flipgrid was introduced as a virtual tool to foster a sense of community among learners. Pear Deck is another tool to help build an academic community.


Whether in the virtual setting, hybrid models, or in-person instruction, research shows students benefit from:

  • Collaboration with their peers
  • Increased opportunities to respond
  • Increased levels of active engagement
  • Frequent checks for understanding
  • Increased informal/formative assessments that guide instruction


Pear Deck is a Google Slides add on used to engage students in individual and social ways while allowing teachers to meet all of the goals listed above. Pear Deck writes, teachers can "make Pear Deck Slides within PowerPoint or Google Slides. But instead of simply presenting informational slides, Pear Deck makes your slides interactive so every student can respond to your questions or prompts right on their own screens." These responses can be both individual and collaborative.


Regardless of the subject or grade, Pear Deck can help engage each student and gather formative assessment data to help tailor instruction to meet the needs of learners. Check out the link below for more information and instructional videos!


https://help.peardeck.com/what-are-pear-deck-slides

Recommended Reading

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The Perfect Blend: A Practical Guide to Developing Student-Centered Learning Experiences

Author Michele Eaton provides teachers with practical strategies and examples to develop a personalized model for effective blended learning in the classroom. The reader will learn how to transition from the role of content deliverer to a designer or architect of learning. Both the novice in technology and the expert in blended learning will find resources, templates, and planning tools to tailor the learning experience their classroom and students.
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Productive Math Struggle: A 6-Point Action Plan For Fostering Perseverance

John Sangiovanni, Susie Katt, and Kevin Dykema team up to present actionable steps, activities, tasks, and real-world examples to help foster the productive struggle that is essential to learning. Educators know the value of productive struggle but can be unsure of how to tap into the power of this type of struggle in the classroom. This book will provide the reader with the action plan to empower teachers and students to embrace the productive struggle in the math classroom and life.
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Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance

People Magazine writes, "It really isn't talent but practice - along with passion - that makes perfect, explains psychologist Duckworth in this illuminating book. Inspiration for non-geniuses everywhere." Author and psychologist Angela Duckworth creates a set of practical strategies that will help the reader become more motivated, more passionate and more persistent when working toward a goal. One reviewer writes, "Grit is a book about what goes through your head when you fall down, and how that - not talent or luck - makes all the difference."

Upcoming PD Opportunities

  • Look for information from building principals regarding corporation specific PD opportunities.


  • Virtual Content Town Halls for Middle and High School Math, ELA, Social Studies, and Science - See the flyer from your principal for dates and joining information. These will be informal virtual meetings to share what worked well in the first grading period, hear what worked for others, and learn from your colleagues.


  • The IDOE has presented parts of the Teaching In a Digital World Webinar Series with future topics scheduled for October 13, October 27, and November 10th. To register or view previous slide decks and recorded webinars, visit Teaching In a Digital World Webinar Series